Timeless Interior Design Tips To Save You Money In The Long Run

The last thing you want is for your home to feel dated, but you probably don’t want to be chasing after every trend, either.

Timeless interior design is the key to designing a home that will never feel old-fashioned. Here is a guide to designing a home just one time so that it will remain stylish and beautiful for decades to come.

Timeless Home Design Is Flexible

There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to timeless home design. You need to take a few factors into consideration to determine how to develop a timeless design for your home.

A timeless design is:

• Complementary to the home’s architectural style
• In line with the homeowner’s personal taste
• Inspired by home decor trends but focused on classic elements

Timeless Home Decor Will Save You Money

Timeless decor can save a homeowner money over time compared to pursuing short-term trends or a specific type of style. Just like with any type of fashion, it’s almost always less expensive long term to buy one nicer item that will last decades than to buy cheap trendy items year after year.

Timeless Decor Ideas To Use In The Home

There are no specific rules to creating timeless home decor, but homeowners can use the following tips when decorating to help save money or avoid hiring an interior designer.

1. Pick Neutral Color Schemes

Neutral color schemes never go out of style. It could be bold and modern, like black and white, or softer and more traditional, like shades of light taupe, greige or gray. When selecting a paint color, start with a neutral as your base color. This will allow you more room to bring in accent colors in each space. A neutral color scheme can be repeated throughout an entire home, with the opportunity to give different spaces their own accent colors to set them apart.

2. Use Natural Materials

Take inspiration from nature and find ways to use natural materials and fibers throughout the home. Natural materials can include wood tones, stone, and textiles such as jute and bamboo. Wood can be incorporated into flooring and furniture. Stone is perfect anywhere you might use tile. Jute rugs can be layered under other rugs to add a natural texture, or used on their own in high traffic areas. Bamboo blinds are a great option for nature-inspired window treatments. Decorating with houseplants will also bring in a natural vibe while remaining timeless.

3. Mix Complementary Aesthetics

There are many popular home design styles including contemporary, midcentury modern, minimalist, farmhouse, rustic and bohemian. Using different types of decor can add additional personality to a room and keep it from appearing to be trapped in one particular design style or decade.

To effortlessly blend styles, try to balance the number of items in each style. For example, you can’t just add a modern coffee table to a farmhouse living room – it will look extremely out of place. Instead, also add a few pieces of modern art, a modern sputnik-style light fixture, and sleek chairs to make the mix look more intentional and seamless.

4. Establish A Focal Point

Focal points give the eye somewhere to rest, and also establish the tone of the space. The style of your focal point should be exactly in line with the style and design of your room.

Here are some examples of natural or created focal points:

• Built-in shelving unit
• Fireplace and mantel
• Gallery wall of pictures
• Large windows
• Large, framed artwork
• Large, framed mirror
• Ceiling beams or treatment
• Accent wall with paint, molding or wallpaper

Focal points are typically on the wall opposite the main entrance to a space, so it is the first thing you see when you enter a room. Arrange furniture so that it is complementing and leading the eye toward that area.

5. Limit Trendy Items

Trendy items are great – until they’re not trendy anymore. At that point, they just start dating your space, and will eventually clog up the landfill. Trendy items, while tempting when you’re shopping, are usually not a great investment. Trends that get dated quickly include bright colors, bold patterns and unusual textures. Instead of trendy accent pieces, focus on pieces in neutral color or natural materials that will never go out of style.

6. Buy High-Quality Furniture

There are many benefits of choosing well-made pieces of furniture. Buying one piece that will last many years will save you money compared to buying cheaper pieces that will break over time. If you’re on a budget, you can still get high-quality furniture second hand. Because it’s made to last, it should have lots of life left in it, assuming it was well-maintained.

In addition to high-quality furniture, stick to clean lines and timeless designs. Avoid furniture with trendy materials, designs or accents to them. You don’t want to invest money in a piece of furniture that will feel dated in a year or two.

7. Light And Bright Always Wins

When in doubt, focus on keeping your space light and bright. This means lightening up the window treatments to let sunlight shine through. Add at least three light sources to each space, such as overhead lighting, sconces, table lamps, floor lamps, under cabinet lighting, can lighting, pendant lights, or chandeliers. Dark spaces often feel dingy and dated. Keeping your space light and bright will help it to feel as clean and timeless as possible.

The Bottom Line: Timeless Interior Design Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive

Designing a timeless home can be stylish without spending too much money. Focus on pieces that are neutral, natural and high-quality. Avoid the temptation to buy into cheap, trendy items each year. Instead, focus on investing in a beautiful, classic home that will fit your aesthetic for decades to come.

Find more inspiration and advice in the homeowner’s guide.